Every time there's a heavy storm, I get this annoying drip-drip-drip from the corner of my living room window. At first, I thought it was just condensation or something minor, but nope—turns out it's an actual leak. Did some digging around online and found out that sometimes the caulking around windows can crack or shrink over time, letting water sneak in. So I grabbed some silicone sealant from the hardware store (super cheap fix btw) and patched up the edges outside. Worked like a charm for now, fingers crossed.
But then I got thinking...maybe there's other sneaky reasons windows leak during storms? Like clogged gutters or something weird with the window frame itself? I'm no expert, just trying to avoid calling in a pro if I don't have to, you know? Curious if anyone else has dealt with this and found other easy DIY fixes or common culprits.
Good call on the silicone sealant—it's usually my go-to fix as well. Another sneaky culprit I've run into is clogged weep holes at the bottom of the window frame. They're tiny drainage holes designed to let water escape, but dirt and debris can block them over time. A quick clean-out with a toothpick or small screwdriver usually does the trick. Also, definitely check your gutters; overflowing gutters can send water straight down onto windows, causing leaks you'd never expect... learned that one the hard way.
Yeah silicone's solid, but honestly, I'd lean more towards polyurethane sealant for exterior window leaks—sticks better and handles weather shifts without cracking. And good tip on the gutters, they're sneaky... had water pooling from a clogged downspout once, nightmare to track down.
Totally agree on the polyurethane—silicone's decent, but I've found it can peel away after a couple seasons, especially if the surface wasn't spotless when applied. Polyurethane just seems to grip better and flexes nicely with temperature swings. Another thing worth mentioning: check the window flashing too. Had a leak once that drove me nuts, kept sealing and resealing until I realized the flashing underneath was compromised. Once I replaced that, problem solved.
And yeah, gutters are sneaky for sure. Had a similar issue with water pooling near the foundation because of a hidden clog. Ended up installing gutter guards—bit of a hassle upfront, but haven't had to climb up there nearly as often since.
Good points about polyurethane versus silicone. I've noticed silicone can indeed start peeling or losing adhesion after a couple of harsh winters, especially if the prep wasn't thorough enough. Polyurethane seems to handle temperature fluctuations better, though it can be a bit messier to apply neatly.
Regarding flashing, that's an interesting angle I hadn't fully considered. I did a quick visual check when I sealed the window edges, but I didn't thoroughly inspect the flashing underneath. Given your experience, it might be worth taking a closer look next time I'm up there.
As for gutters, I recently cleaned mine out and found a surprising amount of debris—mostly leaves and twigs—that had built up over just one season. It makes sense that clogged gutters could redirect water flow toward windows or foundations, causing leaks or pooling issues. Gutter guards sound like a practical long-term solution, even if they're a bit tedious to install initially. Might have to add that to my spring project list.
Yeah, gutter guards are definitely worth the hassle. I put mine in a few years back—spent half a weekend cursing and wrestling with them—but haven't had to scoop out soggy leaves since. Totally worth the scraped knuckles and colorful language...
"spent half a weekend cursing and wrestling with them—but haven't had to scoop out soggy leaves since."
Couldn't agree more. Installed mine last fall, and despite the initial frustration aligning the mesh properly, they've significantly reduced overflow issues and water pooling near my foundation. Definitely a worthwhile investment... scraped knuckles included.
Installed mine a few years back—definitely reduced the leaf mess, but now noticing some moss buildup on the mesh. Anyone else dealing with this? Wondering if there's an easy fix or if I'm stuck climbing up there again...
"now noticing some moss buildup on the mesh"
Had the same issue last spring—ended up spraying a diluted vinegar solution (about half vinegar, half water) onto the mesh. Let it sit for 15 mins, then rinsed gently with the hose. Worked pretty well, moss hasn't returned yet... fingers crossed.
I've tried the vinegar trick too, and yeah, it does seem to help for a while. But honestly, I found that after a particularly rainy season, the moss just creeps back eventually. Maybe it's just my luck or the climate here, but it never seems like a permanent fix.
Speaking of quick fixes though, has anyone had luck sealing up leaky window frames temporarily? I've got an older house and every time we get heavy rain, there's always one window that decides to drip. Last year I tried some silicone caulk around the edges—it worked okay-ish for a few months but started peeling off eventually. I'm skeptical about those spray-on sealants you see advertised everywhere... they look too good to be true. Has anyone actually used them successfully?
Also wondering if the moss buildup might be related to drainage issues around windows or gutters. I noticed mine got worse when my gutters were clogged up with leaves and debris. Once I cleaned those out, things improved noticeably (though not completely). Could be worth checking out if you're seeing moss regularly.
Anyway, curious if others have found better long-term solutions or if we're all just stuck playing whack-a-mole with these rainy-day annoyances...